Tire inflation system with pressurized gas routing through a spindle

ABSTRACT

A tire inflation system having a spindle that has a spindle fastener hole and spindle passage through which a pressurized gas flows for inflating a tire. An adapter or a fastener tube may inhibit pressurized gas from flowing from the spindle passage into the spindle fastener hole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/048,112,filed Oct. 8, 2013, the disclosure now U.S. Pat. No. 9,452,645, of whichis hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent application relates to a tire inflation system in whichpressurized gas is routed through a spindle.

BACKGROUND

A tire inflation system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,931,061.

SUMMARY

In at least one embodiment, a tire inflation system is provided. Thetire inflation system may include a spindle, an adapter, a fitting, anda fastener. The spindle may rotatably support a wheel and may include aspindle passage and a spindle fastener hole. Pressurized gas may flowthrough the spindle passage. The spindle fastener hole may extendthrough the spindle and may intersect the spindle passage. The adaptermay be disposed in the spindle passage. The adapter may include anadapter fastener hole and an adapter passage. The adapter fastener holemay be aligned with the spindle fastener hole. The adapter passage mayreceive the pressurized gas from the spindle passage. The adapterpassage may not be fluidly connected to the adapter fastener hole. Thefitting may be disposed proximate the adapter. The fitting may receivethe pressurized gas from the adapter passage and may be fluidlyconnected to the tire. The fastener may extend through the spindlefastener hole and the adapter fastener hole.

In at least one embodiment, a tire inflation system is provided. Thetire inflation system may include a spindle, a fitting, a fastener tube,and a fastener. The spindle may rotatably support a wheel and mayinclude a spindle passage and a spindle fastener hole. The spindlepassage may be disposed along an axis. Pressurized gas for inflating atire may flow through the spindle passage. The spindle fastener hole mayextend through the spindle and may intersect the spindle passage. Thefitting may be disposed in the spindle passage. The fitting may receivepressurized gas from the spindle passage and may be fluidly connected tothe tire. The fastener tube may extend through the spindle fastenerhole. The fastener tube may inhibit pressurized gas from flowing fromthe spindle passage into the spindle fastener hole. The fastener mayextend through the fastener tube to inhibit movement of the spindle nutthat is disposed on the spindle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a section view of an exemplary wheel end assembly and a tireinflation system.

FIG. 2 is a fitting that may be provided with a wheel end assembly.

FIG. 3 is a top section view of a portion of the wheel end assembly withthe adapter of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an adapter thatmay be provided with the tire inflation system.

FIG. 5 is a top section view of a portion of the wheel end assembly withthe adapter of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adapter thatmay be provided with the tire inflation system.

FIG. 7 is a top section view of a portion of the wheel end assembly withthe adapter of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousand alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of an exemplary axle assembly 10 isshown. The axle assembly 10 may be provided with a motor vehicle like atruck, bus, farm equipment, military transport or weaponry vehicle, orcargo loading equipment for land, air, or marine vessels, or a trailerthat may be provided with a motor vehicle.

The axle assembly 10 may be configured as a non-drive axle in one ormore embodiments. As such, the axle assembly 10 may not receive torquefrom a power source, such as an internal combustion engine or electricmotor, that may be used to propel the vehicle. The axle assembly 10 mayor may not be steerable. In a non-drive axle configuration, the axleassembly 10 may include an axle housing 20, a spindle 22, and a wheelend assembly 24.

The axle housing 20 may receive or support various components of theaxle assembly 10. In addition, the axle housing 20 may facilitatemounting of the axle assembly 10 to the vehicle.

The spindle 22 may be provided with or may be fixedly positioned withrespect to the axle assembly 10. In a steerable configuration, thespindle 22 may be provided with or may be fixedly positioned withrespect to a steering knuckle rather than the axle housing 20. Thespindle 22 may generally extend along but may not rotate about an axis26. In at least one embodiment, the spindle 22 may include a firstspindle end surface 30, a second spindle end surface 32, an internalsurface 34, an external surface 36, a spindle passage 38, and a spindlefastener hole 40.

The first spindle end surface 30 may be disposed proximate or may engagethe axle housing 20. Alternatively, the first spindle end surface 30 maybe omitted in a configuration in which the spindle 22 is integrallyformed with the axle housing 20 or is not provided as a separatecomponent. The second spindle end surface 32 may be disposed oppositethe first spindle end surface 30.

The internal surface 34 may extend between the first spindle end surface30 and the second spindle end surface 32 and may at least partiallydefine the spindle passage 38. Pressurized gas for inflating a tire mayflow through the spindle passage 38. For example, the spindle passage 38may define a conduit that receives pressurized gas or the spindlepassage 38 may receive a conduit, such as a hose, tubing or the likethat may receive pressurized gas and that may extend at least partiallythrough the spindle passage 38.

The external surface 36 may be disposed opposite the internal surface34. The external surface 36 of the spindle 22 may support one or morewheel bearings that may rotatably support the wheel end assembly 24 aswill be discussed in more detail below.

The spindle fastener hole 40 may be configured to receive a fastener 42,such as a cotter pin, that may help secure or inhibit movement of aspindle nut 44 that may be disposed on the spindle 22. The spindle nut44 may help inhibit axial movement of the wheel end assembly 24. Thespindle fastener hole 40 may extend along a spindle fastener hole axis46. The spindle fastener hole axis 46 may intersect and may be disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the axis 26 in one or more embodiments.The spindle fastener hole 40 may intersect the spindle passage 38 andmay extend completely through the spindle 22 such that the spindlepassage 38 may separate or bisect the spindle fastener hole 40.

The wheel end assembly 24 may be rotatably disposed on the spindle 22.The wheel end assembly 24 may include a hub 50, a hub cap 52, wheel endseal assembly 54, a brake subsystem 56, a wheel 58, and a tire 60.

The hub 50 may be rotatably disposed on the spindle 22 and may beconfigured to rotate about the axis 26. For instance, one or more wheelbearings may be mounted on spindle 22 and may rotatably support the hub50. In FIG. 1, a first wheel bearing 70 and a second wheel bearing 72are provided in a cavity 74 that is located between the spindle 22 andthe hub 50. The first wheel bearing 70 may be disposed inboard orfurther from the second spindle end surface 32 than the second wheelbearing 72.

The hub cap 52 may be coupled to the hub 50 with one or more fasteners76. As such, the hub cap 52 may rotate with the hub 50.

The wheel end seal assembly 54 may be disposed between the spindle 22and the hub 50. The wheel end seal assembly 54 may inhibit contaminantsfrom entering the cavity 74 and may help retain lubricant in the cavity74. In at least one embodiment, the wheel end seal assembly 54 may befixedly disposed with respect to the hub 50 and may rotate about theaxis 26 and with respect to the spindle 22.

The brake subsystem 56 may be adapted to slow or inhibit rotation of atleast one associated wheel 58. For example, the brake subsystem 56 maybe configured as a friction brake, such as a drum brake or a disc brake.In FIG. 1, a portion of the brake subsystem 56 is shown with a drumbrake configuration. In a drum brake configuration, a brake drum 80 maybe fixedly disposed on the hub 50 with one or more fasteners 82, such aswheel lug studs. The brake drum 80 may extend continuously around brakeshoe assemblies (not shown) that may be configured to engage the brakedrum 80 to slow rotation of an associated wheel 58.

The wheel 58 may be fixedly disposed on the hub 50. For example, thewheel 58 may be mounted on the hub 50 via the fasteners 82. Morespecifically, the wheel 58 may have a wheel mounting flange 84 that mayhave a set of holes that may each receive a fastener 82. A lug nut 86may be threaded onto each fastener to secure the wheel 58 to thefasteners 82 and the hub 50. The lug nut 86 may engage or may bedisposed proximate an outboard side 88 of the wheel mounting flange 84that may face away from the brake drum 80 or toward the hub cap 52. Thewheel 58 may be configured to support the tire 60. The tire 60 may be apneumatic tire that may be inflated with a pressurized gas orpressurized gas mixture.

A tire inflation system 90 may be associated with the wheel end assembly24. The tire inflation system 90 may be disposed on the vehicle and maybe configured to provide a pressurized gas or pressurized gas mixture toone or more tires 60. For clarity, the term “pressurized gas” may referto either a pressurized gas or a pressurized gas mixture. The tireinflation system 90 may include a control system that may monitor andcontrol the inflation of one or more tires 60, a pressurized gas source92, and a gas supply subsystem 94.

The pressurized gas source 92 may be configured to supply or store avolume of a pressurized gas or pressurized gas mixture, like air ornitrogen. For example, the pressurized gas source 92 may be a tankand/or a pump like a compressor. The pressurized gas source 92 may bedisposed on the vehicle and may provide a pressurized gas or pressurizedgas mixture at a pressure that is greater than or equal to a desiredinflation pressure of a tire 60. As such, the pressurized gas source 92may inflate a tire or maintain a desired tire pressure.

The gas supply subsystem 94 may fluidly connect the pressurized gassource 92 to the tire 60. The gas supply subsystem 94 may include one ormore conduits, such as a hose, tubing, pipe, or combinations thereof. InFIG. 1, a first conduit 100, a connection conduit 102, and a secondconduit 104 are shown. The first conduit 100 may receive pressurized gasfrom the pressurized gas source 92 and may fluidly connect thepressurized gas source 92 to the spindle passage 38. The connectionconduit 102 may receive pressurized gas from the spindle passage 38 andmay supply pressurized gas to the second conduit 104. For example, theconnection conduit 102 may extend through a hole in the hub cap 52 andmay be connected to the second conduit 104 with a fitting 106. Thesecond conduit 104 may receive pressurized gas from the connectionconduit 102 and may supply pressurized gas to the tire 60. The routingof the conduits between the pressurized gas source 92 and a tire 60 thatis shown in FIG. 1 is exemplary and is not meant to be limiting as otherconduit routing paths may be provided. In addition, one or more valvesmay be associated with or provided with a conduit to enable or disablethe flow of the pressurized gas from the pressurized gas source 92 toone or more tires 60. The flow of pressurized gas is represented by thearrows located near the conduits in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, exemplary interfaces between the wheelend assembly 24 and the gas supply subsystem 94 are shown. In eachconfiguration, pressurized gas may be routed through the spindle passage38 to the connection conduit 102. In addition, the fastener 42 isomitted from FIGS. 3, 5, and 7 for clarity.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first example of an interface is shown. Inthis embodiment, a fitting 110 and a fastener tube 112 are employed.

The fitting 110 may receive pressurized gas from the spindle passage 38and may help fluidly connect the pressurized gas source 92 to the tire60. The fitting 110 may have a first fitting end surface 120, a secondfitting end surface 122, a fitting hole 124, a first outer fittingsurface 126, a second outer fitting surface 128, and a fitting stepsurface 130.

The first fitting end surface 120 may be disposed at an end of thefitting 110. The first fitting end surface 120 may be disposed oppositethe second fitting end surface 122 and may be received in the spindlepassage 38 as is best shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the first fittingend surface 120 may be spaced apart from the fastener tube 112.

The fitting hole 124 may extend from the first fitting end surface 120to the second fitting end surface 122. The fitting hole 124 may receivethe connection conduit 102. In addition, the fitting hole 124 mayreceive pressurized gas from the spindle passage 38 and may routepressurized gas to the connection conduit 102. A seal may be disposed inthe fitting hole 124 between the connection conduit 102 and the fitting110 to help inhibit leakage of pressurized gas between the fitting 110and the connection conduit 102.

The first outer fitting surface 126 may extend from the first fittingend surface 120 toward the second fitting end surface 122. The firstouter fitting surface 126 may at least partially define an outsidecircumference of the fitting 110. In addition, the first outer fittingsurface 126 may be disposed in the spindle passage 38 and may engage thespindle 22 to help inhibit leakage of pressurized gas between thefitting 110 and the spindle 22.

The second outer fitting surface 128 may extend from the second fittingend surface 122 toward the first fitting end surface 120 and the fittingstep surface 130. The second outer fitting surface 128 may at leastpartially define an outside circumference of the fitting 110 and mayhave a larger diameter than the first outer fitting surface 126.

The fitting step surface 130 may extend from the first outer fittingsurface 126 to the second outer fitting surface 128. In at least oneembodiment, the fitting step surface 130 may engage the second spindleend surface 32 to help position and inhibit axial movement of thefitting 110 with respect to the spindle 22.

Referring to FIG. 3, the fastener tube 112 may receive the fastener 42(which is not shown in FIG. 3 for clarity) and may extend through thespindle fastener hole 40 to inhibit or prevent pressurized gas fromexiting the spindle 22 via the spindle fastener hole 40. The fastenertube 112 may have a tubular configuration and may have a fastener tubehole 134 through which the fastener 42 may extend. The fastener tube 112may extend along an axis, such as the spindle fastener hole axis 46 andmay be disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis 26. The fastenertube 112 may be spaced apart from the fitting 110 and may be smallerthan the spindle passage 38. As such, pressurized gas may flow aroundthe fastener tube 112 to reach the fitting 110. The fastener tube 112may be secured to the spindle 22 in any suitable manner, such as with aninterference fit and/or one or more seals that may inhibit leakage ofpressurized gas between the spindle 22 and the fastener tube 112.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a second example of an interface is shown.In this embodiment, the fitting 110 and an adapter 140 are employed. Theadapter 140 is best shown in FIG. 4.

The adapter 140 may receive pressurized gas from the spindle passage 38and may route the pressurized gas to the fitting 110. The adapter 140may have a first end surface 150, a second end surface 152, a firstouter surface 154, a second outer surface 156, an outer step surface158, an internal surface 160, a first inner surface 162, a second innersurface 164, an inner step surface 166, an adapter fastener hole 168,and at least one adapter passage 170.

The first end surface 150 may be disposed at an end of the adapter 140.The first end surface 150 may be received in the spindle passage 38 asis best shown in FIG. 5. In addition, the first end surface 150 may bespaced apart from the spindle 22.

The second end surface 152 may be disposed opposite the first endsurface 150. The second end surface may be disposed proximate or mayengage a surface of the fitting 110, such as the fitting step surface130 to help inhibit leakage of pressurized gas between the fitting 110and the adapter 140.

The first outer surface 154 may extend from the first end surface 150toward the second end surface 152. The first outer surface 154 may atleast partially define an outside circumference of the adapter 140. Inaddition, the first outer surface 154 may be disposed in the spindlepassage 38 and may engage the spindle 22 to inhibit or prevent leakageof pressurized gas between the spindle 22 and the adapter 140.

The second outer surface 156 may extend from the second end surface 152toward the first end surface 150 and the outer step surface 158. Thesecond outer surface 156 may at least partially define an outsidecircumference of the adapter 140 and may have a larger diameter than thefirst outer surface 154.

The outer step surface 158 may extend from the first outer surface 154to the second outer surface 156. In at least one embodiment, the outerstep surface 158 may engage the second spindle end surface 32 to helpposition and inhibit axial movement of the adapter 140 with respect tothe spindle 22 and/or to inhibit leakage of pressurized gas between thespindle 22 and the adapter 140.

The internal surface 160 may be disposed between and may be spaced apartfrom the first end surface 150 and the second end surface 152. In atleast one embodiment, the internal surface 160 may be axially positionedbetween first end surface 150 and the outer step surface 158. Theinternal surface 160 may be spaced apart from the fitting 110 and theconnection conduit 102 such that a chamber 180 is provided between thefitting 110 and adapter 140 that may fluidly connect the adapter passage170 to the fitting hole 124 and/or connection conduit 102.

The first inner surface 162 may extend from the second end surface 152toward the internal surface 160. The first inner surface 162 may atleast partially define an inside circumference of the adapter 140. Inaddition, the first inner surface 162 may receive and may engage thefitting 110 to inhibit leakage of pressurized gas between the fitting110 and the adapter 140.

The second inner surface 164 may extend from the internal surface 160toward the second end surface 152 and may partially define the chamber180. The second inner surface 164 may at least partially define aninside circumference of the adapter 140 and may have a smaller diameterthan the first inner surface 162.

The inner step surface 166 may extend from the first inner surface 162to the second inner surface 164. In at least one embodiment, the innerstep surface 166 may engage a surface of the fitting 110, such as thefirst fitting end surface 120 to help position and inhibit axialmovement of the fitting 110 with respect to the adapter 140 and/or toinhibit leakage of pressurized gas between the fitting 110 and theadapter 140.

The adapter fastener hole 168 may receive the fastener 42 (which is notshown in FIG. 5 for clarity). The adapter fastener hole 168 may extendthrough the adapter 140 such that the adapter fastener hole 168 may havetwo openings in the first outer surface 154. The adapter fastener hole168 may be located between the first end surface 150 and the internalsurface 160 and may be spaced apart from the adapter passage 170 toinhibit or prevent pressurized gas from exiting the adapter 140 via theadapter fastener hole 168. As such, the adapter passage 170 may not befluidly connected to the adapter fastener hole 168. The adapter fastenerhole 168 may extend along an axis, such as the spindle fastener holeaxis 46 and may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis 26.

At least one adapter passage 170 may be provided with the adapter 140.In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, two adapter passages 170 areshown. The adapter passages 170 may be spaced apart from each other andmay be disposed on opposite sides of the axis 26 and the adapterfastener hole 168. In addition, the adapter passages 170 may extendsubstantially parallel to each other in one or more embodiments. Eachadapter passage 170 may extend from the first end surface 150 to theinternal surface 160 and/or the inner step surface 166. In addition,each adapter passage 170 may be disposed between and may be spaced apartfrom the first outer surface 154 and the adapter fastener hole 168 tohelp inhibit leakage of pressurized gas from the adapter 140. Theadapter passage 170 may receive pressurized gas from the spindle passage38 and may route pressurized gas to the chamber 180 and the connectionconduit 102.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a third example of an interface is shown. Inthis embodiment, the fitting 110 and an adapter 140′ are employed.

The adapter 140′ may have a similar configuration as the adapter 140shown in FIG. 4, but may have an adapter passage 170′ with a differentconfiguration and may include at least one flat 190′.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, two flats 190′ are provided.The flats 190′ may be spaced apart from each other and may be disposedon opposite sides of the axis 26 and the adapter fastener hole 168. Inaddition, the flats 190′ may extend substantially parallel to each otherin one or more embodiments. Each flat 190′ may extend from the first endsurface 150 to a flat step surface 192′. The flat step surface 192′ maybe disposed between the first end surface 150 and the outer step surface158 and may extend from the flat 190′ to the first outer surface 154.The flat step surface 192′ may extend substantially perpendicular to theaxis 26 in one or more embodiments.

At least one adapter passage 170′ may be provided with the adapter 140′.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, two adapter passages 170′ are shown.The adapter passages 170′ may be spaced apart from each other and may bedisposed on opposite sides of the axis 26. In addition, the adapterpassages 170′ may be coaxially disposed in one or more embodiments. Eachadapter passage 170′ may extend from a flat 190′ to the chamber 180. Forinstance, the adapter passage 170′ may extend from a flat 190′ to theinternal surface 160 and/or the second inner surface 164. In addition,each adapter passage 170′ may be disposed between a corresponding flat190′ and the adapter fastener hole 168 such that the adapter passage170′ is spaced apart from the adapter fastener hole 168 to inhibitleakage of pressurized gas from the adapter 140′ through the adapterfastener hole 168. As such, the adapter passage 170′ may not be fluidlyconnected to the adapter fastener hole 168. In addition, the adapterpassage 170′ may be completely disposed between the adapter fastenerhole 168 and the fitting 110. Pressurized gas in the spindle passage 38may flow between the spindle 22 and the flat 190′ and to the adapterpassage 170′, which may route the pressurized gas to the chamber 180 andthe connection conduit 102.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended thatthese embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather,the words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may becombined to form further embodiments of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tire inflation system comprising: a spindlethat rotatably supports a wheel, the spindle including: a spindlepassage through which a pressurized gas flows for inflating a tire; anda spindle fastener hole that extends through the spindle and thatintersects the spindle passage; an adapter that is disposed in thespindle passage, wherein the adapter includes an adapter fastener holethat is aligned with the spindle fastener hole and an adapter passagethat receives the pressurized gas from the spindle passage, wherein theadapter passage is not fluidly connected to the adapter fastener hole; afitting that is disposed proximate the adapter, wherein the fittingreceives the pressurized gas from the adapter passage and is fluidlyconnected to the tire; and a fastener that extends through the spindlefastener hole and the adapter fastener hole.
 2. The tire inflationsystem of claim 1 further comprising a pressurized gas source thatsupplies the pressurized gas and that is fluidly connected to thespindle passage with a first conduit.
 3. The tire inflation system ofclaim 2 wherein the tire is disposed on the wheel and the fitting isfluidly connected to the tire via a second conduit.
 4. The tireinflation system of claim 1 wherein the spindle fastener hole isdisposed substantially perpendicular to the spindle passage.
 5. The tireinflation system of claim 1 wherein the adapter is received in thespindle passage and engages the spindle.
 6. The tire inflation system ofclaim 1 wherein the spindle passage extends along an axis from a firstspindle end surface to a second spindle end surface.
 7. The tireinflation system of claim 6 wherein the adapter is disposed proximatethe second spindle end surface.
 8. The tire inflation system of claim 1wherein the adapter has a first end surface, a second end surfacedisposed opposite the first end surface, and a first outer surface thatextends from the first end surface toward the second end surface,wherein the adapter passage is disposed between the first outer surfaceand the adapter fastener hole.
 9. The tire inflation system of claim 8wherein the adapter further comprises an internal surface that isdisposed between the first end surface and the second end surface, afirst inner surface that extends from the internal surface toward thesecond end surface, a second inner surface that extends from the secondend surface toward the first end surface, and an inner step surface thatextends from the first inner surface to the second inner surface,wherein the fitting is disposed proximate the second end surface. 10.The tire inflation system of claim 9 wherein the fitting engages theinner step surface and the first inner surface and is spaced apart fromthe internal surface.
 11. The tire inflation system of claim 9 whereinthe adapter passage extends from the first end surface to the inner stepsurface.
 12. The tire inflation system of claim 1 wherein the adapterpassage disposed between the adapter fastener hole and the fitting. 13.The tire inflation system of claim 12 wherein the adapter has a firstend surface, a second end surface disposed opposite the first endsurface, a first outer surface that extends from the first end surface,and a flat that is disposed proximate the first outer surface and thatextends from a first end surface toward a second end surface, whereinthe flat is spaced apart from the spindle and the adapter passageextends from the flat to a chamber that is disposed inside the adapter.